Moistener for duplicating machines



Feb. 7, 1950 A. J. WRIGHT 2,496,833

MOISTENER FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 26, 1946 IN l/ENTOR ANSEL J. WQ/GHT ATTORNEY$ Feb. 7, 1950 A. J. WRIGHT MOISTENER FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES 3 Sh'eeosSheet 2 Filed Oct- 26, 1946.

/Nl/EN TOP A/vsn J. WQ/GHT Feb. 7, 1950 A. J. WRIGHT 2,496,338

MOISTENER FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES Filed 091'... 26,. 1946 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 A VQ/ 36 I v v I76. 4

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/NVN Ton ANsEL J. WRIGHT A T TORNEYS Patented Feb. 7, 1950 MOISTENER FOR DUPLICATING MACHINES I Ansel J. Wright, Minneapolis,-Minn.; assi'gnor to The Wright 00., a corporation of Minnesota Application October 26, 1946, Serial No. 705,895

3 Claims. (CI. 91-38) This invention relates to new and useful improvements in duplicating machines of the type in which copy sheets are passed between a master sheet, secured to the periphery of a cylinder, and a pressure roller, and is directed more specifically to an improved device for moistening a surface of each copy sheet just prior to its contacting the master sheet to receive an impression.

In machines of this general type, the impression transcribed on a master sheet is transferred onto the moistened surface of the copy sheets as they are successively fed between the master sheet and the pressure roller, and to obtain a sharply defined and clean cut impression on each copy sheet, the moistening of each copy sheet must be accurately controlled, and must preferably be variable whereby the application of the moistening fluid onto the copy sheets may be varied in accordance to the quality of the paper from which the copy sheets are made, and also to compensate for variations in speed of the cylinder supporting the master sheet, as obviously, when the copy sheets are fed over the moistening means at a high rate of speed, each copy sheet may pick up less fluid than when fed thereover at a relatively slower speed.

Numerous attempts have heretofore been made to control the delivery or feeding of the moisten ing fluid onto the copy sheets, and to the best of my knowledge none of these have proven en-' tirely satisfactory. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a simplified fluid moistening means which is so constructed that each copy sheet may receive the proper amount of moistening fluid before being fed into contact with the master sheet, whereby the impressions made on successive copy sheets may be sharply defined and will be substantially uniform in density, an attribute which is highly desirable in machines of this general type.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel device for moistening each copy sheet, comprising a wick assembly having a copy sheet moistening element at its upper end disposed out of, but adjacent to the travel path of the copy sheets, and a member being mounted over said copy sheet engaging element above the travel path of the copy sheets and operating in timed relation to the cylinder to engage and depress each copy sheet into. moistening contact with said moistening element in such a manner that each copy sheet will receive just the right amount of moistening fluid, thereby assuring that each copy sheet will receive a sharply defined impression of the matter appearing on the master 2 sheet, and at the same time making it possible to increase the speed of the machine.

A further object resides in the combination with a duplicating machine comprising a cylinder having a'master sheet detachably secured'to the periphery thereof, of a moistening device disposed beneath the path of travel of the copy sheets within the, usual tank or container for supporting the moistening fluid, and said fluid applying means comprising an integrally constructed unit embodying a supporting plate, a suitable wick, and one or more absorbent elements, all of which parts may be secured together as a unit so that the fluid applying device may readily be removed from the fluid storage tank of the machine for cleaning or for other reasons when desired. I I

A further object is to provide a fluid applying device comprising a suitable supporting plate having its lower end adapted to be supported on the bottom of the usual I fiuid tank of the duplicator and ifhaving'a wick secured thereto with its lower end positioned adjacent to the lower edge of the supporting plate and its upper endbeing positioned beneath the path of travel of the copy sheets, and means being disposed over the path of travel of thecopy sheets and operating in timed relation to the cylinder to engage and press each copy sheet into moistening contact with the wick just prior to being moved into feeding engagement with the cylinderand pressure roller.. g

A further object is to provide a duplicating machine of the class described, comprising a tank or container for a suitable moistening fluid, said tank normally being closed except for an elongated opening in its upper wall disposed crosswise to the path of travel of the copy sheets, and a moisture-applying element being disposed within the tank beneath said elongated opening and operatively engaged with a wick for constantly supplyin fluid thereto from'the container, and a presser bar being disposed over'said travel path and so related and connected to the cylinder that each time the cylinder is rotated to feed a copy sheet between it and the pressure roller, said presser bar is actuated to engage and press the copy sheet being fedthrough the machine into moisture receiving. contact with the moisture applying element, said Dresser b'arbeing so ar ranged'thatwhen the cylinder has completed its cycle of operation; the presser bar is returned to f sheet remaining on the machine becoming oversupplied with moistening fluid.

Other objects of the invention reside in the unitary construction of the fluid moistening means, in the manner of supporting it within the usual fluid tank of the machine whereby the moisture applying means may readily be detached from the machine when desired; in the construction of the upper portion of the fluid applying means which comprises a strip of suitable ab.- sorbent material such as leather or chamois skin which is positioned upon and secured to the usual wick of the apparatus; infltheprovision of. a

a strip of absorbent material such as blotting paper which is placed in direct contact withthe fluid absorbing strip and is arranged. to directly contact the bottom surface of each copy sheet, said upper absorbent strip serving to control the amount of fluid applied to the surface of each copy sheet, and said strip being readily interchangeable to vary the. degree of feeding of moiss. tening fluid to each copy sheet in the novel means provided for retaining the leading end of the master sheetin position on the periphery of thecylinder in the operation of attaching'the master sheet thereto; and in the pivotal-mount: ing of the presser bar whereby it is self leveling, and thereby. assures that, each copysheet w'illbe uniformly moistened the Width thereof.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and will claims.

be pointed out in the annexed .1

In theaccompanying drawings therehas been disclosed a structure designed tojcarry out the various objects of the invention, but itis to be understood that the invention is'not conflnedto the exact features shown as various chan'gesmay be madewithin the scope of follow.

In the drawings:

the. clairnsiwhich Figure 1 is a fragmentary. view of a portion of a duplicating machine partially in ing the invention embodied therein;

Figure 2 is a plan view of Figure 1 V Figure 3 is a. detailsectional view substantially section, show on the line 33 of Figure 2, showing a, copy sheetfbeing fed betweenLthe pressure roller and the master "sheet secured to and rotating with t thecylinder;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional vl e w s1 1b-.-

stantially on the line the moistening removed from the tank orgcontainer'; v

Figure5 is a perspectivevlew showing the fluid moistening device removed [from the machine;

Figure 6 is a perspectiveview.oftheabsorbent strip which directly contacts, the under surface of each copy sheet;

Figure 7 is a detail sectional .view. on alarger 44 of Figure 2, showing. applying device partially scale showing the means provided for securing the. leading end of themaster sheetln position in the groove provi cylinder; and

Figure 8 is a 88 of Figure'l.

In .the selected embodiment of the. invention herein disclosed, there is illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, for purposes of disclo'sure; a'portion. of a more or less conventionalduplicating; machine,

dad in the periphery of the detail sectional view on the line including a casing orframe comprising, spaced side .walls 2 and 3 having a suitable cylinder] mounted therebetween upon. ashaft 5 which is supported in suitable,bearings;-,. 10t shown, proi m the ew Fe le i e esles 4- 4 suitable operating crank 6 is secured to one end of the shaft 5 for manually rotating the cylinder 4. A spring actuated stop lever l is pivoted at 8 to the side wall 2 of the casing and is adapted to engage and interrupt rotation of the crank 6, at the completion of each cycle of operation.

The stop lever 1 is normally retained in the full line position, shown in Figure 1, in engagement with the crank 6, by a suitable spring 9. The lever has a finger engaging portion I I whereby when the operator grasps the handle l2 of the crank to rotate the cylinder, he may readily depress the lever to the dotted line position shown in Figure 1, thereby to release the crank so that the crank may be rotated through the next cycle of operation.

A pressure roller I3 is shown mounted upon a shaft l4 supported in the upper end of a pair of inclined bars l5, shown having guide slots It for receiving the cylinder shaft 5, as indicated in Figure l. The lower ends of the bars l5 are shown secured to a rod 1! having its end portions extending through the guide slots l 8 provided in the I8 cooperate with the guide slots l6 provided in the intermediate portions of the bars IE to radially guide the pressure roller [3 towards or away from the periphery of the cylinder 4. A suitable means, not shown, is provided at the lower ends of the bars 15 for varying the gap. or spacing between the peripheries of the cylinder 4 and pressure roller. This spacing is determined by the thickness of the master sheet 19 secured to the periphery of the cylinder, and the thickness of the copy sheets 2| which are fed between the cylinder and pressure roller, as will subsequently be described.

A feature of the present invention resides in the novel means provided for facilitating the operation of attaching the master sheet 19 to the periphery of the cylinder 4. As shown in Figures 7 and 8, the periphery of the cylinder is provided with an elongated narrow groove or recess 22 which extends from end to end of the cylinder and is disposed in parallel relation to the axis shown at 25 in Figure 8, and the end portions 25 are seated in the bottom of the recess 22 and are suitabl secured in place therein by such means as electric spot welding. By offsetting the end portions 25 of the metallic strip 24, a narrow, gap or space 20 is provided between the strip '24 and the bottom of the recess 22 into which the leading edge of the-master sheet [9 may be inserted in the operation of attaching it to the periphery of the cylinder, as indicated by the full and dotted lines in Figure 7.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the means provided for moistening the bottom surface of each copy sheet 2| just prior to its passing between the cylinder 4 and pressure roller I3, it being well known that to transfer the-matter appearing on the surface of the master sheet onto thev contacting surfaces of the copy sheets, the surface of each copy sheet must previously have been moistened sufficiently to pickupa portion of the ink or carbon deposit.

forming the script on the surface of themaster sheet.

To thus moisten the under surface of each copy sheet, a suitable tank or container 26 is provided in the upper portion of the machine directly beneath the travel path of the copy sheets, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. The tank 26 is adapted to contain a suitable moistening fluid well known in the art. A removable cover plate, generally designated by the numeral 21 normally closes the major portion of the open top of the reservoir 26 and provides a surface for guiding the copy sheets over the tank, as will be understood by reference to Figures 1 and 3. In other words, the cover plate 21 extends from the upright wall 28 of the tank 26 to a point adjacent to a presser bar 29, located adjacent to the pressure roller l3 and extending substantially the length thereof. The presser bar is mounted for limited pivotal movement on a U-shaped supporting member 3| having spaced legs 32 and 33, the leg 32 being pivotally supported on the side wall 2 by a removable pivot pin 34, and the leg 33 being pivotally supported on the casing wall 3 by a pivot pin 35.

Another feature of the invention resides in the pivotal mounting of the presser bar 29 upon the U-shaped member 3| whereby it becomes, in effect, self-leveling. As best shown in Figures 2 and 3, the presser bar is secured to the member 3| by a shouldered stud l9 having its threaded terminal secured in the member 3|, and located intermediately of the ends of the bar 29. Pivotal movement of the bar 29 is limited by a flange 29' provided at the upper edge of said bar, said flange being adapted to engage the upper edge of the member 3|, when the bar 29 is laterally rocked upon the pivot pin or stud l0, as will be understood.

Such limited rocking movement of the presser bar 29 permits the presser bar to adapt itself to the surface of each copy sheet, when pressed into engagement therewith, whereby a uniform pressure is always applied to each copy sheet the width thereof to assure uniform application of the moistening fluid thereto.

The lower edge of the presser bar is adapted to engage each copy sheet delivered to the cylinder 4 and hold it in contact with a suitable fluid applying element, next to be described. Each copy sheet is pressed slightly downwardl through the elongated opening 49 provided between the upper edge 36 of the inclined wall 31 of the tank and the adjacent edge 38 of the cover plate 21, as will be understood by reference to Figure 3.

Means is provided for intermittently operating the presser bar 29, and is shown comprising an arm 39 pivoted at 4| to the leg 32 of the U-shaped member 3| and having its right-hand end portion positioned adjacent to the cylinder 4 in the path of a cam or lug 42 secured to the cylinder 4. The lug 42 is adapted to engage the arm 39 and swing it upwardly to the position shown in Figure 1, when the operating crank 6 engages the stop arm 1 and comes to rest. When the arm 39 is thus positioned, the presser bar 29 will be moved to a position wherein its lower edge will be out of contact with a copy sheet which may be positioned therebeneath, whereby any copy sheet remaining in the machine at the end of each cycle of operation will be out of contact with the fluid moistening means. The opposite or left-hand end of the arm 39, when viewed as shown in Figure 1, has an enlarged opening 43 therein for receiving the pivot pin 35 of the leg 32 of the U-shaped member 3|, whereby the arm 39 and U-shapedmember 3| have limited movement relative to one another. A suitable spring 39 constantly urges the arm 39 downwardly into the path of the cam lug 42 provided on the cylinder.

The means provided for moistening the bottom surface of each copy sheet is shown comprising a supporting plate 44 adapted to be inserted into the tank 26 wherein it may rest on the bottom 45 of the tank. The plate 44 extends upwardly at an incline in the direction of movement of the copy sheets and preferably has its upper end portion 46 offset as shown. The edge 41 of the offset portion 46 may engage the inclined wall 31 of the tank adjacent to its upper end, as clearly illustrated in Figures 1 and 3. It will also be noted that the upper edge 41 of the plate 44 is disposed directly below the elongated opening 40 provided between the cover plate 21 and upper edge 36 of the tank wall 31.

A wick 48' is suitably secured to the plate 44 and covers the major portion thereof, as clearly illustrated in Figure 5. The upper end portion 49 of the wick is seated upon the forwardly extending portion 46 of the plate 44, which provides a backing for the wick portion 49.

Secured to the upper surface of the wick portion 49 is an elongated strip 5| of a suitable absorbent material as, for example, chamois skin which serves to quickly absorb moisture from the wick 48 and to retain it in readiness for application to the copy sheets, as they are successively fed over the opening 49 and between the pressure roller i3 and cylinder 4.

Another important feature of the invention resides in the means provided for controlling and regulating the supply of moistening fluid from the absorbent strip 5| to the surface of the copy sheets. As hereinbefore stated, to obtain clear cut, sharply defined impressions or work, each copy sheet must receive a predetermined amount of moisture. If insufficient moisture is applied thereto, the impression received from the master sheet may be indistinct, and conversely, if too much moisture is applied to each copy sheet, the impression may be more or less blurred and indistinct. It is, therefore, of utmost importance that just enough moistening fluid be applied to the surface of each copy sheet to effect a sharply defined impression.

I have found that when the speed of the cylinder 4 is known, and the quality or density of the copy sheets is known, that I can accurately control the transfer of moistening fluid from the absorbent strip 5| of the wick 48 onto each copy sheet by simply placing on top of the absorbent strip 5|, a strip 52 of a suitable absorbent material such as certain types of blotting paper. These strips are exceedingly inexpensive and may be carried in stock and may be of varied densities. For example, if it is desired to reduce the amount of moistening fluid applied to each copy sheet, a moistening transfer strip 52 having a comparatively high density may be utilized, and conversely, if a greater amount of moistening fiuid is to be transferred, a transfer strip 52 of less density may be utilized, as it is well known the density of the strip will determine to a large extent the amount of moisture which may be transferred thereby from the absorbent strip 5| onto each copy sheet.

The supporting plate 44, wick 48, and absorbent strips 5| and 52- may readily and conveniently be secured together as a unit by a suitable clamping plate 53 having an aperture therein for receiving the threaded end 54 of a clamping screw having its opposite end received in an aperture in' the supporting plate 44, as best shownv in Figure 3. A suitable clamping nut 55 is received in threaded engagement with the stud 54 to secure the clamping plate 53 in clampingengagement with the absorbent strips and 52.

When the parts are assembled as shown for example in Figure 3, the entire moisture applying device, including the plate 44, wick 48, absorbent strips 5| and 52,.and clamping plate 53 may be removed from the tank 26 as .a unit, as indicated in Figure 4, it being understood that the cover plate 21 must first be removed from the tank in order that access may be had to the interior thereof.

The relationship between the elongated opening 40, the upper portion of the tank,.the bottom edge of the presser bar 29, and the uppermost portion of the fluid applying element 52 is of extreme importance in the construction of the machine in that it assures that the bottom surface of each copy sheet will receive an adequate supply of fluid. At the same time, there is no danger of a copy sheet being left in the machine in direct contact with the fluid moistening means when the cylinder comes to rest at the end of each cycle of operation.

By reference to Figure 1, it will be noted that the normal path of travel of the copy sheets is above the uppermost portion of the fluid applying element 52, when the machine is at rest.

Immediately following the initial starting of the cylinder 4, the lug 42 on the cylinder moves out of engagement with the arm 39, thereby causing the presser bar 29 to drop and depress the approaching copy sheet into contact with the upper surface of the moisture applying element 52, as,

illustrated in Figure 3. When the cylinder approaches the end of its cycle, the lug 42 again engages the arm 39 and moves the presserbar 29 out of engagement with the upper surface of the copy sheet positioned therebeneath, whereby the machine may remain at rest without danger of any fluid being'transferredfrom the element 52 to the copy sheet which may be left in the machine.

In the operation of the machine, a master sheet is applied to the periphery of the cylinder 4, as hereinbefore described, and a suitable quantity of moistening fluid is introduced into the reservoir 26. The moistening device, including the plate 44 and the parts secured thereto, is then inserted into the reservoir if not already positioned therein, after which the cover plate 21 is secured in position over the moistening device by suitable means, not shown.

When the machine is at rest in its normal position, as shown in Figure 1, with I the crank 6 engaged with the stop lever l, the cam 42 will be in engagement with the arm 39whereby said arm will retain the presser bar 29 in its elevated position, out of the path of the copy sheets.

When a copy sheet is tobefed between the cylinder and pressure roller l3 to obtain an impression, a copy sheet is fed into the position shown in Figure 1, with its leading edge substantially engaging the periphery of the cylinder and pressure roller. The operator then, grasps the handle 12 of the crank Gand depresses the stop lever l, whereupon the cylinder may be rotated one revolution, in the direction indicatedby the arrow inFlgure 1, whereby a copy sheet isfed between thetcyllnder and pressure roller, as

shown in Figure 3.

Upon the initial 'rotationof the cylinder, the cam. 42 moves out of engagement with the arm 39 whereupon'the springv 43 of said arm will :.quickly. move the arm to, the position shown in Figure 3, wherein itwillbe noted that the lower edge of the. presser bar, 29 has engagedthe top surface of the copy sheet positioned therebeneath,

.andhas pressed the bottom surface of said copy sheet into moisture receiving contact with the moisture transfer strip 52 whereby the entire surface of the copy sheet engaging the strip 52 may receive an adequate supply of fluid to effect a sharply defined, clean cut impression. Just before the crank reaches. its normal position against the stop lever l, the cam lug 42 engages the arm.39 and returns the presser bar 29 to its normal elevated position, out of contact with the next following copy sheet; When in this position, any copy sheet remaining in the machine beneath the presser barwill always be out of contact with cluding the supporting plate 44 and the parts secured thereto, as shown in Figure 5, is important in that it makes it possible to construct the moistening device as an integral unit which may be completely assembled for use, as will beunderstood. The device comprises a minimum number of parts whereby it readily lends itself for manufacture in quantity production at low cost. Also because of the simplified construction of the moistening device, whereby it may be assembled as a unit as illustrated in Figure 5, the maintenance cost is small as compared to machines of this general type now in common use.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that I have accomplished at least the principal objects'of my invention, and it will also be apparent tothose skilled in the art that the embodiments herein described may be variously changed and modified without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that the invention is capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated .that the herein disclosed embodiments are illustrative only, and that my invention is not limited thereto.

I claim as my invention:

1. A moistening device for a duplicating machine comprising a tank having an opening in its upper wall over which the copy sheets pass to ;.the impression cylinder, a plate having one end supported in the lower portion of the tank and havingitsupper marginal edge portion bent at an angle to the median plane of the plate and adapted to engage a fixed support to retain the plate in fixed relation to the opening in the upper .wall in the tank, a moistening pad supported on the upper portion of said plate in aligmnent with the opening in the upper wall of the tank, a wick for conducting moistening fluid from the .tank to said pad, and a clampin member carried by said plate and engaging the wick and moistening pad to secure together said parts whereby the moistening device including the plate, wick, moistening pad, and clamp, may be inserted into the tank or removed therefrom as a unitary structure.

2.. A moistening device .for a duplicating mabent at an angle to chine comprising a tank having an opening in its upper wall over which the copy sheet pass to the impression cylinder, a plate removably supported in said tank and having its upper marginal edge portion offset in the direction of the copy sheets and adapted to engage a support to retain the plate in operative position relative to the opening in the seated on the plate, a strip of absorbent material, seated upon the upper portion of the wick directupper wall of the tank, a wick,

1y below the opening in the tank wall, a clamping member for securing th wick and said strip of absorbent material to said plate whereby the plate and the parts secured thereto may be removed from the tank as a unitary structure, and means also carried by said plate for regulating the amount of moisture transferred to each copy sheet.

3. A moistening device for a duplicating machine comprising a tank having a V-shaped bottom and provided with an upper wall having an opening herein through which the copy sheets 2,4.oe,asa

plate and extending downwardly therefrom into the tank, a strip of absorbent material seated upon the upper marginal edg portion of the wick, a moisture transfer element seated on said strip of absorbent material in alignment with the opening in the upper tank wall, whereby each copy sheet may receive moisture from said element as it passes over the opening in the tank wall, and a clampin member for securing said moisture transfer element to the plate in fixed position relative thereto, and whereby the plate, wick, absorbent strip, and moisture transfer element, and clamp are secured together as a unitary structure capable of convenient removal from the tank.

AN SEL J. WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,982,017 Oser Nov. 27, 1934 2,161,795 Benello June 13, 1939 2,171,061 Ford Aug. 29, 1939 2,229,059 Ditty et a1. Jan. 21, 1941 2,229,583 Morris Jan. 21, 1941 2,238,359 Copeland et a1. Apr. 15, 1941 2,248,046 Ford July 8, 1941 2,360,648 Copeland et al Oct. 1'7, 1944 2,375,603 Willard May 8, 1945 2,424,534 Ford July 22, 1947 

